Milan is Italy’s most expensive city and a hub of fashion and finance. With its high concentration of luxury brands and Michelin-starred restaurants — particularly in the Duomo, Brera, and other central areas — shopping trips, museum entrance fees, aperitivi and dinners can add up fast, even when the exchange rate is in your favor.

However, if you know where to go, there are attractions in Milan that won't cost you a dime. Most, too, are lesser-known sites with fewer crowds — saving you money and time, and freeing you up to explore.